title: Perturbation of anion balance during inhibition of growth of Escherichia coli by weak acids.
abstract: During inhibition of cell growth by weak acids, there is substantial accumulation of the weak acid anions in the cytoplasm. This study was undertaken to determine the impact of anion accumulation on cellular pools. At pH 6, growth in the presence of 8 mM acetate led to an internal pool of greater than 240 mM acetate anion and resulted in reduced levels of glutamate in the cell, but there were no significant changes in K+ and Na+ levels. At low osmolarity, the change in the glutamate pool compensated for only a small fraction of the accumulated acetate anion. However, at high osmolarity, glutamate compensated for over half of the accumulated acetate. Recovery of the normal cytoplasmic pH after the removal of acetate was dependent on the synthesis of glutamate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Institute of Medical Science, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Roe
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McLaggan
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Byrne
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Booth
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism*; D000143:Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000838:Anions / Q000378:metabolism; D001692:Biological Transport; D002414:Cations, Monovalent / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000143:Acids; D000596:Amino Acids; D000838:Anions; D002414:Cations, Monovalent; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium